In recent years, attention has been focused on the effects of long-term use of earphones and headphones on hearing, and interest in protecting hearing at music events is also increasing. Especially during the summer music festival season, when there are more opportunities to be exposed to loud environments for long periods of time, consideration for the ears is important.
Against this backdrop of growing interest in hearing, Audio-Technica, which is responsible for product development from sound output to input, conducted a survey on how to enjoy music festivals and live concerts. In addition to this, the company also interviewed experts such as otorhinolaryngologists and live music venue engineers about their opinions on earplugs.
The Importance of Ear Protection
The survey was conducted among men and women in their 20s to 40s who had attended a music festival or concert within the past year. According to this survey, the top positive aspects of live performances included enjoying live music, and 
"feeling the music with your whole body (feeling the sound and vibrations)."
On the other hand, regarding experiences related to sound at live concerts, 57% answered, "I have felt anxious because of the loudness of the sound," and 68% answered, "I have experienced abnormalities in my ears, such as difficulty hearing or ringing in my ears, after a live performance." This suggests that the volume can sometimes be a source of stress and anxiety in a live experience where music should be enjoyed to the fullest.
Earplugs as a Solution
Earplugs are the first thing that comes to mind when dealing with volume, but earplugs with high sound insulation properties can even change the sound quality, making it difficult to fully enjoy the original charm of music. Earplugs for live performances exist as a solution to controlling the volume at an appropriate level while maintaining the sound balance, but only 51% of respondents had experience using them. Half of them have never used them yet, and 25% of them don't even know that ear plugs for live performances exist.
When asked about their intention to use ear plugs, 25.5% said they would like to use them, and 46% said they would like to use them depending on the quality and ease of use, indicating that over 70% of respondents were interested in using earplugs.
A PA engineer at a live house who tried Audio-Technica's live performance earplugs, "AT-ERP5", said, "You can hear the fine nuances of the hi-hat clearly," and "On the contrary, using the earplugs makes it easier to feel the bass tones." Some people say, "I can even have a conversation with the earplugs in," which suggests that they can be enjoyed at concerts and festivals.
Regarding the effectiveness of ear plugs, Masanori Ishii, Director of Otorhinolaryngology at JCHO Tokyo Shinjuku Medical Center, points out, "From the perspective of protecting your hearing, using ear plugs at concerts is useful. Once you lose your hearing, it will never return, so I hope you will protect your precious hearing by developing the habit of listening to music safely in order to enjoy music for a long time."
